Chapter 11: Hunt for Space Fiends
Magnolia was quiet in the early morning, a rare stillness blanketing the guild hall. The city stirred lazily, but inside Fairy Tail, anticipation buzzed through the air. Makarov, the guild master, had summoned Menma Uzumaki to his office for an urgent mission.
Menma, now officially S-Class, adjusted the strap of his cloak, chains coiled lightly around his arms, and the Rinnegan pulsing faintly beneath his eyepatch. Elfman stood by his side, a silent guardian ready to assist if needed.
"Menma," Makarov began, his small frame surprisingly serious, "this mission is unlike any you've faced before. We've received reports of Space Fiends appearing across remote regions. Dangerous creatures, highly aggressive, and capable of destabilizing local magical fields. I'm entrusting this to you."
Menma inclined his head. "Understood. What is the scope of the threat?"
"Spanning forests, mountain passes, and rivers," Makarov said gravely. "You'll be gone for roughly a month and a half, hunting and neutralizing them. Use restraint — eliminate only when absolutely necessary."
Menma's chains twitched slightly. Restraint… always restraint.
"I will proceed."
Into the Wilderness
The following day, Menma and Elfman ventured into the wilds. The forests stretched endlessly, sunlight filtering through thick canopies, magical energy humming faintly in the air. Menma's Space Devil Slayer Magic flared lightly, enabling him to sense the fiends' presence without alerting them prematurely.
The creatures were cunning, preying on travelers and disrupting natural magic flows. Menma moved with careful precision, chains and Wood Make Magic ready, neutralizing threats without causing unnecessary harm.
Hours turned into days. The hunt demanded focus, discipline, and constant observation. Menma's Rinnegan pulsed faintly, noting spatial distortions and subtle anomalies, though he avoided overreliance — restraint remained his guiding principle.
Saving Wendy and Carla
On the twenty-first day, Menma stumbled upon a small clearing where a 12-year-old girl and a cat-like companion struggled against a minor group of fiends. The girl's bright blue eyes widened as she tried to defend herself, while the small cat, fur shining white with gold accents, bristled defensively.
"Stay back!" Menma commanded, chains whipping outward to restrain the fiends. Wood roots erupted beneath the creatures, binding them tightly without causing injury.
The girl fell to her knees, eyes wide with shock. "Th-thank you! I… we didn't know what to do!"
Menma extended a hand, calm and steady. "I am Menma Uzumaki. You are safe now. What is your name?"
"I'm Wendy… and this is Carla," the girl replied, petting her companion. "We're part of a small guild… Cage Shelter. We were gathering herbs when the fiends attacked."
Menma nodded, observing her magical aura. "Your guild is small, but your courage is notable. You should not face such danger alone."
Carla, perched on Wendy's shoulder, regarded him carefully. "You're strong… and careful. I like that."
Menma allowed a faint smile. "Restraint is as important as strength. You should remember that."
Journey to Cage Shelter
Menma escorted Wendy and Carla to their village, a quaint settlement nestled against rolling hills. Along the way, they talked quietly. Wendy described her guild's humble beginnings, its members, and the mission to protect the surrounding lands.
"You mean… you do this all by yourselves?" Menma asked, impressed.
Wendy nodded. "We try. But we're not strong enough for everything. That's why… today was terrifying."
Menma's Rinnegan pulsed faintly beneath the eyepatch as he scanned the surrounding forest. The threat is still present… but they are safe for now.
Upon reaching the village, Wendy and Carla expressed their gratitude. "Thank you," Wendy said softly. "I… hope I can become stronger someday."
"You will," Menma replied. "Strength is developed through discipline, observation, and protecting those who cannot protect themselves."
Return to the Hunt
With Wendy and Carla safe, Menma and Elfman resumed their mission. The fiends continued to appear in remote areas, demanding vigilance, strategy, and careful elimination. Menma's chains restrained when possible, Wood Make Magic redirected threats, and his Space Devil Slayer Magic allowed him to anticipate attacks.
Days blurred into nights, forests shifting into mountains, rivers, and hidden valleys. Menma moved silently, efficiently, yet always with restraint, eliminating only those fiends that posed a direct threat.
Elfman, constantly at his side, grinned during rare moments of downtime. "You're too calm for this kind of chaos. Aren't you even a little nervous?"
Menma's faint smile remained controlled. "Nervousness is wasted energy. Observation and calculation guide survival. Focus on what is necessary, not what is feared."
Reflection
That night, Menma camped beneath a canopy of stars, chains coiled, and wood magic forming a subtle barrier around the small camp. The Rinnegan hummed faintly, the dimensional awareness offering him faint glimpses of potential fiend activity.
Power must always be tempered with restraint, he thought. Life without reason to take it is sacred. Even monsters… deserve evaluation before destruction.
He glanced at the sleeping Elfman nearby and allowed a rare moment of calm. Tomorrow would bring more fiends, more danger, and more challenges — but Menma was ready. He would hunt them, protect the innocent, and continue walking the path of the Masked Warden.
End of Chapter 11: Hunt for Space Fiends